Exeter charity's model prize

THE House That Moved is on the move again — and it could be coming to your front room

But have no fear, before you start thinking about where the sofa will go, this House That Moved is a perfect replica — in miniature — of the Exeter landmark.

It is now a doll’s house to die for, the precision work of gifted craftsmen John Kent who has put his masterpiece up as the first prize in this year’s Exeter Leukaemia Fund’s Christmas Draw.

The real timber framed House That Moved is now a priceless medieval gem in Exeter’s West Street.

But the model can be yours — for just 50p and a little bit of luck.

That’s how much a ticket for the ELF draw will cost with the hand-built dolls’ house the top prize.

Mr Kent used plans from the original house and it took over two months to construct.

Mark Whittle, fundraising manager for ELF, said “This is a fantastic model of this well-known Exeter City landmark. We are very grateful to Mr Kent for making it for us and to our Exeter supporter group for helping organise the draw.

“I hope that the people of Exeter and the surrounding area will buy the 50p draw tickets to help us raise the funds ELF needs to support the excellent work of the haematology centre at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.”

The full-size House That Moved started life in the early 15th century at No 16 Edmund Street.

It was quite happy there until December 9, 1961, when planners decided it had to go to make way for a new road development.

It was deemed so worthy of preservation that a major project was undertaken.

Rather than dismantle the old place bit by bit it was moved entirely on rollers.

Huge crowds assembled in West Street on the day to see the 400-year-old building, wrapped in a timber frame, wheeled, inch by inch, the 100m to its new home.

Before it was moved another building occupied the site where it now rests, but was destroyed during the Second World War.

If you miss out the doll’s house, other ELF draw prizes include a family ticket to watch Exeter City Football Club, a pair of tickets to Holiday on Ice at Westpoint and an ELF goody box.

Tickets are available from the ELF office at the haematology centre, ELF shops at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital and Crediton or from the ELF Christmas card stall in the Guildhall Shopping Centre. The draw will take place at ELF’s Christmas Concert, in St James Church, Mount Pleasant Road, Exeter, on Friday, December 11.